Newark fire leaves family homeless

August 14, 2010 2:25:13 PM PDT

NEWARK, CA --

Investigators are still probing the cause of a Newark blaze that displaced a family of three and caused $300,000 in damage early this morning.

Firefighters were called to a fire at 6625 Mirabeau Drive at about 3:25 a.m., Alameda County Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said. They found smoke and flames pouring from the home's garage door.

The occupants of the home, two adults and their young child, were evacuated without injury, Knowles said. The Red Cross is helping the family find temporary housing.

The two-alarm fire was brought under control a short time later, but not before destroying the garage and damaging the home's kitchen, according to Knowles. The rest of the home was damaged by smoke and heat, and an adjacent home sustained minor fire damage.

The monetary loss from the fire was estimated at $200,000 in structural damage and $100,000 to the contents of the home.

During the investigation, firefighters found a functional smoke alarm in the hallway of the home, but it had no battery installed, Knowles said.